Overhead switch unit employing spring toogle



OVERHEAD SWITCH UNIT EMPLOYING SPRING TOGGLE Filed June 23, 1958 5. LE FIELL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTQR. S/dney Le F/ell 5. LE FIELL July 12, 1960 I OVERHEAD SWITCH UNIT EMPLOYING SPRING TOGGLE Filed June 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENIOR. Sidney ZeF/e/I I Qua...

Patented July 12, 1960 2,944,491 v OVERHEAD swrrcH UNIT EMPLOYING SPRING TOGGLE v v Sidney Le Fiell, 1469 Fairfax Ave, San Francisco, Filed June 23, 1958, ser Ne. 743,551. 3 Claims. c1.104--1os This invention relates to improvements in a three-way switch for overhead tracks.

The principal object of this invention is to provide tinuous track sequentially between three divergingtracks."

A further object is to produce ,a device of thisccharacter which may be used as a unit for. connecting three, diverging tracks over which commodities are conveyed.

- pull rod 28 connects the rocker arm 22 to an L-shaped means for crossing switch sections sov as tolforrn a con- 1 A still further object is to produce a switch of this character which Will be actuated through the effect of the carrier moving over the tracks and into engagement with one of the switch members causing the same to close and the space between the straight section 11' and the forward thereby preventing anypossibilityof the carrier moving, 7

off of the'tracks.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which like numbers are employed in designating like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my switchum't showing the track switch set for travel-from the straight-away section toward the left of the drawing; I

I Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the track switch set for passage ina straight-away direction; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the track switch arranged for'travel toward the right of the drawing.

In the moving of meat carcasses in storage plants, slaughter houses and the like, overhead tracks are. em ployed and as these tracks diverge in various directions, it is necessary to employ switching mechanisms so that a load may be conveyed from one track to the other and in different directions.

lever 29 pivoted as at 31 to a support 32 carried on the hanger 6.

, A pin 33 secured to the free end of the L-shaped lever 29 serves to secure one end of a spring 34, while the oppositeend of the spring issecuredto a pin 36 carried by the support 32. 1 j

In order to raise the switch section 18 I provide a pull link 35 connecting the pivoted switch section 18 to the free end of a pivoted arm 37 pivoted as at 38 to the header 5 for engagementby a pin 39 carried on the rear side of the rocker arm 22.

- The result ,of this construction is that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig; 1, the toggle spring '34 tends to hold the end of the L-shaped lever in the position shown and the pull is below the pivotal point 31 of the lever. v

At this time a carcass suspended from a trolley roller could pass in either direction from a straight track continuing from the forward end of the curved section'9.

J When the lever 29 is moved from the position of Fig. 1

to-that of Fig. 2, it will benoted that the spring 34 ex:

tends directly across the pivot 31 and at that time the switch section 16 has moved upwardly, while the switch section 18 has moved downwardly and now serves to span end of the curved section 9, thus making a straight path over whichthe trolley can move.

'I'hisilast action was permitted through the movement of the lever 29 pushing upwardly on the pull rod 28, thus 'movinglthe rocker arm upwardly so that the pin 39 permitted the pivoted arm 37 to move and drop the switch section 18.

A: the same th the link 24 has allowed the switch section 21 to drop a short distance.

I Referring to Fig. 3, it will now be noted that the lever raised the switch section 18 through a pin 40 on the back I of the bar 22.engaging the arm 37 on the opposite side of the pivot 38 from that engagedby the pin 39, thus I lifting arm 37, linkage 35, and switch section 18 and has Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description and in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a header from which are depending three hangers 6, 7 and 8. To the hanger 6 is secured a curved section of track 9, while to the hanger 7 is secured a straight section of track 11, and to the hanger 8 a curved section 12.

Sections 9 and 12 diverge away from ,each other.

Pivoted as at 13 to the track section 9 is a lever 14 to which is connected a switch section 16. A similar pivot is shown at 17 which permits the pivoting of a switch 'section 18 to the track section 11. A pivot 19, serves to "sequence, I provide a rocker arm 22 pivoted as at 23 to the header 5. Depending from this rocker arm is a pull rod 24 which connects to the pivoted bracket 26 to which the switch section 21 is connected. A pull rod 27 connects the opposite end of the rocker arm to the lever 14 to which the switch section 16 is connected, and a lowered the switch section 21, so that it now bridges the gap between the forward end of the straight section 9 and the curved section 12. It is to be here noted that the pivots 23 and 38 are spaced longitudinally of each other to produce a camming action between the pins 39 and 40 carried on the arm 22 and contacting the top and bottom edges of arm 37. These pins are alsoon opposite sides of the pivoted point of the arm 37. Thus is caused a counter-locking action between the two arms.

A trolley now could move in either direction from the straight section to the right-hand track.

By having the spring 34 thus arranged, each one of the switch sections may be moved into or out of position with a minimum amount of effort, thus assuring the complete all of the objects above set forth. It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and deand that various changes relative to the material, size,

shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined calims.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:

1. A track switch unit for overhead tracks comprising a header, a pairof spa6ed hangers depending from said header; acii'rved trackfs'ection carried by eacho'f said hangers at the opposite end of said header, a third hanger spaced between the saidfirst mentioned hangers, a straight track section carried.v by said third hanger, a switch sec:

tion '"pivotedto each of said curved track sections, a rocker ar m pivotedto said header, a pu.ll= rod connecting said 'rociger 'arrn andeacli'bf said switch sections pivoted to said spaced curved-track; sections for simultaneously lowering one of said sv'vitch sections and raising the other of said switch sections to complete a throughltrack, arm pivoted to said header and spaced longitudinallyfrom thefpivotal point of said roelg'er arr'ri, a'swit'ch section pivoted'to said straight trackfseetion,' a pullrod' connecting one end ofs aid last-mentioned pivoted-arm andsaid lastf mentioned switch sdtinfei parrot spaced pins carried by said rocker arm and alternately engageable with said' a header, aplpramy of depending'hangers carriedb'ysaid header, a curved'tracks'eetion carried by each' of a'pair of'said'hanger's 'a't' 'opposite ends "or said header, a straight track section carried by one of said hangers between the pairof'hafigers, 'a' switc'h section pivoted "to each of said track sections at a point adjacent each of saidhangers a rocker arm pivoted to said: header, a pull r'o'dconnecting the'opp'osite'en'ds of s'aidilrocker' arm and each o'f s'a'id switch sections pivoted to "saidf'c'urve'd track sections, 'a'

second arm pivoted to s'aidhead er in spaced relation from the pivot point of saidroclter arm, spac ed pin means on" said rocker arm alternately engageable with saidsecond arm at opposite sides of its pivoted 'connection onvj-s aid header 'wherebyjwhen saidrocker arm is actuated: in one direction, and second arm will, be'rot'ated in an opposite? direction, a pivotally connected betweensaid straight its pivotal connection on said header, and means for moving saidrocker arm on its pivot for simultaneously lowering one of said switch sections and raising another of said switch sections to complete a through track, said means comprising a pivoted L-shaped lever supported by one of said hangers, a link extending between said L- shaped lever and said rocker arm, and a spring having one end connected to one end of said L-shaped lever and hanging its, .opposite end connected: to. and supported from said last nenaenea'haagf "w reby'when said L-s'hap'ed lever is moved about its pivot, said spring will move from a position'on onesid'eof the pivot-point of saidL -shaped lever to a positien imlinerwith said,pigot point ,and to the opposite sneer saidpivofpoiritl" T" 3. A track switch'TunitI'forioverheadtracks comprising a header, a plurality of depending hangers carried by said header, a curved track section carried by each of a pair of said hangers at opposite ends of said header, a straight V track section carried by one of said hangersbetweeri. the

second arm pivoted tosaidheader in spaced relation from,

the pivot point of said rocker arm',spaced pin means on said rociter arni alternately e'ngageabl'ewith said'second arm at opposite sides of its pivotalconnection on, said header whereby when said rocker arm is actuated intonev direction, saidsecond arm will be rotated in, an. opposite. direction, a link pivotally connectedbetween said straightl track section and said second arm in spaced relationfror'n.

, its pivotal connection on said header, and meansrfor moving said rocker arm on its pivot for simultaneouslylo'wen, ing 'one of said switch sections and raising anotherr of said switch sections to complete a through track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES ATENTS p 571,607 Werner, Nov. 17 1896 1,059,412 Wagner '..Apr.' 22, 1913, 1,078,945 Murray ;'Nov. 18,1913 2,535,541} LeFiell Dec, 26,'1959 A is... 

